Headphone + amp/dac combo recommendations

[Vasishta.Sushant]

So the journey started with personal listening but after I realized that its not the REAL thing (sold the UDAC and RE-0), I moved to the world of HT Systems. Polk Audio TSi300

• Onkyo 3300. Was happy for a while but not so long ago, realized that the setup can’t be used for night time listening (wife and kid both hate music :()

So coming back to ground zero.

Have a budget of 15K now. (I plead, do not push me to increase that)

Help me get a headphone + amp/dac combo. The netbook remains as the source.

(Have recently got my year end bonus so I am kinda fine with spending. Might not be able to do that later so pls pour in your suggestions).

— Updated Post - Automerged —

EDIT: I just realized what a mess I’ve created in the thread title Spare me for that. The sleepiness is the culprit, not me.

[Ritvik]

HRT Music Streamer II + ATH-M50 or any closed can within your budget. Maybe you could try picking up a used DAC to save a bit. Think the Maverick is still up for sale here.

[strategy]

THere, you extended his budget !

--------------------------- X -------------------------------

Sushant, you have to extend your budget !!

A good DAC is recommended ( as it will help your speaker system as well, so the DAC wont count in the this 15K spending )

DAC - HRT Music streamer II

AMP - Matrix M-stage ( Depends on the HP, if you opt for a easy to drive can, you might not need any )

AMP/DAC ( if you want an all in one solution ) - Maverick D1

HP - tell us what type of music you prefer. ( based on what files you put on the HM602, i will recommend the AKG K702 )

[bennysachdev]

I would really advice against the Maverick D1. I bought mine cuz i got a brand new sealed one from a girl whoz bf had gifted it to her and then she broke up with him and wanted to sell it off. Bought it from her for 8k . Lol.

Its warm, and the detailing is lost, my macbook’s onboard sound is better than the D1. Its just that I need amping but i’m sure there are better options now that I know how bad this really sounds with good headphones like the Sr225 and the D5000. Also the Maverick makes sense if you have multiple sources, since it offers usb, coax, digital, rca and 1/4" plug in. So its vfm if you wanna out to your headphone from multiple sources. But your comprising on the quality.

The MS2 offers only USB in and RCA out, but you can use a RCA male to 3.5mm female to connect a headphone/iem directly to it. So it fits the bill since you want to use it with your netbook. PM bf1983 to find out how to order it if you need help with that. I’m sure he’s a helpful guy.
Bf1983 was using this setup(thats where I first heard the MS2 and fell in love with the sound) till he got an amazing EHHA amp built by titana.

Ritvik is right, MS2 and any headphone(that suits your music taste, and doesn’t require amping) is what you should buy, thats what I recommend too.

[stalker]

@VS - Hope you don’t mind me butting into your thread, but I’m also currently looking for a DAC.

I don’t really have a fancy pair of headphones or speakers. Just the JVC RX900s and a set of Swans DK1080MKII - 08s. My laptop’s audio ports are possibly giving up the ghost. I hear frequent hissing and at times, they refuse to work unless I start the machine with my speakers plugged in.

I was hoping to get a USB DAC for around $100 and bypass the laptops onboard completely. Would the uDAC be my only option at this budget? Is there anything else that is significantly better? I guess I could push my budget to $120 at the most.

Afaik, the HTR MS2 is $150.. right?

[Ritvik]

yeah the MS2 is $150. If I remember right Vijay is selling his last few units of the udac at Rs.2800. Apparently he’s no longer associated with NuForce for some reason, VS knows the details.

[stalker]

@Ritvik

yeah the MS2 is $150. If I remember right Vijay is selling his last few units of the udac at Rs.2800. Apparently he’s no longer associated with NuForce for some reason, VS knows the details.

I am based out of the US.. Not India

[Ritvik]

Even better! You should be able to find stuff on head-fi at nominal shipping. Maybe a HUD-MX1 or something.

[Vasishta.Sushant]

Got me all confused again (nothing new though )

D1 is really not preferred since even I read that it messes up the details.

I was kind of thinking of getting udac-2 for its getting real good reviews but I realized that I do not have the means to procure it now.

Was thinking of M50 but again, I don’t think there is anything better in sub 10K range.

Can you guys suggest me links as well, from where I can buy these things as well ? Do not have any of the friends currently coming back from the US.

— Updated Post - Automerged —

Also HTR MS2 is only a DAC right ? I’d require an amplifier as well.

[bennysachdev]

@vasishta : Like I said, pm bf1983 for details on how to order the MS2. PristineNote is selling the M50 AFAIK.

@stalker : the audinst mx1 is a good option as a dac + amp. The HRT MS2 is just a dac, but a better dac than the Audinst Mx1. Check out Audiohub for the Audinst and the official website of HRT for the music streamer 2.

[unreal_ishan]

M50 + uDac user here…imho its the best setup one can get in that price range…

[Vasishta.Sushant]

I had the udac earlier and didn’t like it since it was messing up big time with the higher frequencies which somehow I didn’t like. But udac 2 is something I really would like to get.

[FaH33m]

@stalker

@VS - Hope you don’t mind me butting into your thread, but I’m also currently looking for a DAC.

I don’t really have a fancy pair of headphones or speakers. Just the JVC RX900s and a set of Swans DK1080MKII - 08s. My laptop’s audio ports are possibly giving up the ghost. I hear frequent hissing and at times, they refuse to work unless I start the machine with my speakers plugged in.

I was hoping to get a USB DAC for around $100 and bypass the laptops onboard completely. Would the uDAC be my only option at this budget? Is there anything else that is significantly better? I guess I could push my budget to $120 at the most.

Afaik, the HTR MS2 is $150.. right?

For ~129$ you can get the uDAC II , its pretty darn good .The MS2 @ 150$ is slightly more neutral and detailed but less driving power as it doesn’t have a headphone amp. For a RX900 both should be fine .Also any particular reason for opting for RX900 ? Need lot of bass ?

— Updated Post - Automerged —

Shushant ,If you need the uDAC II , I could help you procure it from NuForce USA but not sure how costly it might ended up being due to the customs / international shipping . and yeah the uDAC II is a big step up from older uDAC also not as coloured as the old one .

[Vasishta.Sushant]

^^^

Sushant re, not Shoooo - shaaant !!!

BTW whats the take on this one guys? Amazon.com: NuForce Icon uDAC2-HP (Black) Headphone Amp and USB DAC (24bit/96kHz): Electronics

Same as UDAC2 with the RCA out striped.

I can pair that one with M50s.

Perspectives ?

[strategy]

Sushant, I’d still recommend the HRT music streamer II. ITs said to have awesome Soundstage and imaging.

you do have 15K Budget. ITs well within it.

what are your views on IEMs ?

[Dare_Devil]

Shushant ,If you need the uDAC II , I could help you procure it from NuForce USA but not sure how costly it might ended up being due to the customs / international shipping . and yeah the uDAC II is a big step up from older uDAC also not as coloured as the old one .

FaH33m : YGPM

[Vasishta.Sushant]

@strategy

Sushant, I’d still recommend the HRT music streamer II. ITs said to have awesome Soundstage and imaging.

you do have 15K Budget. ITs well within it.

what are your views on IEMs ?

No iems this time, they feel NOT SO COMPLETE SOUNDING. Most probably it’d be the M50.

[sid1712]

Well, the M50’s sound great with the S:flo2’s line out, which sound similar to the uDac2 (right ?). The bass is pretty impactful with great sub bass

[strategy]

the DAC he buys for this setup doubles up as the DAC for his Speaker setup( right?).

that is why i am recommending the HRT MSII.

[stalker]

@Ritvik

Even better! You should be able to find stuff on head-fi at nominal shipping. Maybe a HUD-MX1 or something.

Did NOT think of that! Thanks for the tip.

@bennysachdev

@stalker : the audinst mx1 is a good option as a dac + amp. The HRT MS2 is just a dac, but a better dac than the Audinst Mx1. Check out Audiohub for the Audinst and the official website of HRT for the music streamer 2.

I don’t think I really care about getting an AMP, so just DAC should do fine.

@FaH33m

For ~129$ you can get the uDAC II , its pretty darn good .The MS2 @ 150$ is slightly more neutral and detailed but less driving power as it doesn’t have a headphone amp. For a RX900 both should be fine .Also any particular reason for opting for RX900 ? Need lot of bass ?

Coz I go the headphones for $35 bucks
And yup, I don’t really need an amp with these.

@strategy

the DAC he buys for this setup doubles up as the DAC for his Speaker setup( right?).

that is why i am recommending the HRT MSII.

That would be me
I butted into VS’s thread with a request for suggestions for an AMP for speakers+headphones.

VS is looking for a AMP+DAC+headphone combo to use with his netbook